Method for Transferring Data from a Plurality of SIM-less Communication Modules

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of transferring data from at least a first communication module and a second communication module to, respectively, a first data processing centre and a second data processing centre via a circuit switched telecommunications network. A first and second connection request containing respective first and second pre-provisioned telephone numbers from the first and second communication modules are received in the network. The first and second telephone numbers are processed such that the network refrains from authenticating the first and second communication modules. Subsequently first and a second circuit switched data connections are established with the first and second communication modules for receiving data. The data can be routed from the first communication module to the first data processing centre and from the second communication module to the second data processing centre in accordance with the first and second telephone numbers, respectively.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims priority to European Patent Application EP 08009899.9 filed in the EPO Patent Office on May 30th, 2008, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]Generally, the disclosed method and device relates to the field of data transfer over a wireless circuit switched telecommunications network. More specifically, the disclosed method and device relates to a method for transferring data from a plurality of SIM-less communication modules to a data processing centre over a wireless circuit switched telecommunications network.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]The past decades have shown an ever increasing demand for data capacity of telecommunications networks. Telecommunications providers have adapted their networks to provide extended services to meet the demands of their clients.[0006]One example of such services relates to the field of ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]By not requiring SIM cards for the communication modules in M2M applications, no numbers need to be assigned for the communication modules and no HLR capacity needs to be reserved, resulting in a considerable cost decrease. A mandatory telecommunications network is assigned in the communication module for the transfer of data. The telephone number is also indicative of the routing of the data to a respective data processing centre. Also in contrast with the emergency call functionality, the assigned telephone number for the data processing centre may be a long number, e.g. selected from a range of MSISDN numbers, since the telephone number is not required to be easily remembered.

[0018]The embodiment of claim 2 provides the advantage of assigning internal network addresses and thus provides increased flexibility.

[0019]The embodiment of claim 3 provides the advantage that the communication module attaches to a predefined network that is configured to appropriately transfer the data to the data processing centre. The predefined network is indicated by means of the mobile network code (MNC).

[0020]The embodiment of claim 4 provides the advantage that the communication modules do not need to be connected to the network continuously, thereby saving network resources. For M2M applications, communication modules typically only rarely have data to be transmitted.

[0022]The embodiment of claim 8 provides the advantage that the subscriber, typically the organization that requires the data processing, may be billed for the access to the telecommunications network, the data transfer and / or the data processing in the absence of SIM card data from the communication modules.

[0023]The embodiment of claim 9 provides the advantage that existing telecommunication networks can be employed for M2M communication applications.

Problems solved by technology

Although the terminal equipment of the prior art initially does not have a SIM card installed, it is clear that the disadvantages for M2M applications are not resolved by the prior art method since telephone numbers should still be assigned to the different terminals and HLR capacity should be reserved to allow such terminals to obtain full mobile phone functionality.

By not requiring SIM cards for the communication modules in M2M applications, no numbers need to be assigned for the communication modules and no HLR capacity needs to be reserved, resulting in a considerable cost decrease.

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